AB warns: watch out
Skipper says T20 wins will highly motivate islanders for ODIs
SRI Lanka are kicking and screaming again. The tourists, who for so long on this tour of South Africa during the Test series seemed to be on life support, confirmed their resurgence in the grandest manner with an historic T20 series victory earlier this week.
This group of young and inexperienced Sri Lankans are the first from the island to accomplish a series victory of any form in South Africa – a feat that had previously eluded legends such Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Marvan Atapattu and current convenor of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya.
The fact that rookies such as 23-year-old Niroshan Dickwella held their composure in the thrilling finale at Newlands without their injured skipper Angelo Mathews further multiplied the magnitude of the achievement.
But having made his return to international cricket after a six-month injury lay-off in that five-wicket defeat, Proteas captain AB de Villiers certainly needs no further warnings that his team cannot afford to be complacent in the series opening ODI in Port Elizabeth today. In fact, he admires the tourists’ youthful exuberance as it takes him back to early on his career with the Proteas.
“The Sri Lankans came back really well. They played some good cricket over the last two matches. They are a really motivated group of young players,” De Villiers, who has reclaimed the ODI captaincy from Faf du Plessis said yesterday. “I’ve been part of one or two groups of young players. I know that feeling of motivation.
“I remember in Australia where we played the Aussies in ODI series after Graeme (Smith), (Jacques) Kallis, and a few guys were injured, and some of them were rested, we were so motivated, and we ended up winning 4-1.
“Even though we feel that we’re more talented, more skilful, and a better group of players than Sri Lanka, we know they are very dangerous being very motivated. There’s lots of young talent there that can come good at certain times. We are well aware of that and know that we have to play some very good cricket to beat them.”
To compound matters South Africa have lost one their own prodigies for this series with 20-year-old fast bowler Lungi Ngidi being ruled out for three to four weeks after sustaining a left abdominal muscle wall injury after falling badly at Newlands.
Ngidi was sensational in the opening two T20 matches and would have looked forward to continuing his progress on the international stage during this ODI series.
With Kyle Abbott relinquishing his place in the national team after signing a Kolpak contract last year and senior pacemen Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel still out injured, Ngidi would have attempted and bowl himself into contention for a possible place in the 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy later this year.
“It’s amazing how it keeps happening. The minute you’re thinking there goes that guy, there goes that guy, the young talent just keeps coming through. It speaks volumes for the depth we have in our country. In all races and cultures, the talent just keeps coming through,” De Villiers said.
“It’s great to see him (Ngidi) come through. He’s got a great future ahead of him. We as the senior players, the management, we all need to manage him really well. He’s a got a long road to travel but the talent is certainly there. The mind is certainly there. He’s got a great head on his shoulders. I think mentally he’s really strong. He showed that in the last few games.
“Unfortunately he’s had a really bad fall in the last T20 which is some kind of abdominal muscle strain, but it’s very exciting to see him come through. There is lots of potential there.”
However, even after taking all this into account, South Africa should possess too much firepower at St George’s Park if the weather holds – the forecast does indicate showers again after the drizzle yesterday morning. This is due to the return of De Villiers, Du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy and Kagiso Rabada.
The senior men would all have enjoyed their well-earned rest after their Test series exertions and will be looking to create early momentum to immediately quell any feel-good factor the Sri Lankans may be experiencing after their T20 series triumph. SOUTH Africa’s cricket coffers have been raided once more with Dane Vilas being the latest Protea to sign a Kolpak deal with English County Championship side Lancashire.
The backup Test wicket-whose last tour was the recent one to Australia, has joined Kyle Abbott (Hampshire), Hardus Viljoen (Derbyshire), Simon Harmer (Essex), Rilee Rossouw (Hampshire), David Wiese and Stiaan van Zyl (Sussex) who all recently gave up the opportunity to represent the Proteas in return for the security of a county contract.
Vilas has signed a two-year deal at Old Trafford as the Manchester side look for an able replacement behind the stumps while England international Jos Buttler is away on international duty.
Vilas played six Tests for South Africa without fully taking his opportunities while Test incumbent Quinton de Kock was out favour with the selectors in 2015.
However, Vilas has long though been prolific in domestic limited-overs cricket and would have expected to play more than just a single T20 International against India at the Wanderers in 2012.